Hi, people! It has been a LONG WHILE ever since I had posted anything on this blog. So, I will be posting something. FINALLY! Right? Oh yeah, I finally got to finish watching this anime and it's often compared with another anime with a similar setting, Asterisk War. I might not watch the Asterisk War as it is widely considered as the worst of the two.
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| Beautiful, isn't it? |
BTW, I'm so sorry for not posting anything for a long time. I haven't got time for anime reviewing for quite a while. I had been busy with my Final Year Project (FYP) and the FINAL spurt of my study life. I'm sick and tired of my study life already, it's time for a change. Anyway, now, let's talk about Rakudai Kishi. Let's go!!!
WARNING:-
SPOILER ALERT!!! If you haven't watched it and plan to watch it without anyone being the spoiler, please DON'T CONTINUE READING!!!
P.S. If you want to be spoiled, well, go ahead and read it. You HAD been warned. Don't blame me for being spoiled if you INSIST on continuing to read this post.
Introduction
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| Poster for the anime! |
The anime, Rakudai Kishi no Chivalry, or in English, Chivalry of a Failed Knight is another of those anime that is adapted from a light novel of the same name. Well, nowadays, it's quite difficult to find original animation, if you noticed and are into that. BTW, there is an interesting thing about the anime's name that I'd like to talk about. The name of the anime in Japanese is 落第騎士の英雄譚 BUT it's read as Rakudai Kishi no Chivalry and NOT Rakudai Kishi no Eiyuutan. Why? It's because the phase, 英雄譚 (the part that is supposed be read as Eiyuutan) is given a reading of キャバルリィ(it's read as Kyabarurii). It's kind of 'ChunibyouISTIC', isn't it? Anyway, I heard that kind of naming is gaining some steam in Japan.
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| Light Novel cover. |
OK, enough of that and...Wait, BTW, the anime adaption is done by Silver Link and the light novel is
written by Riku Misora and illustrated by Won. One thing about the LN, the author somehow has its story temporary halted for almost 5 months (well, more or less). Maybe he has no more inspiration for the story or something. It's really sad that a decent story has no change (for now) to see its ending. BTW, the first volume of the LN was released on July 15, 2013, and the anime adaptation aired from October 3 to December 19, 2015. Oh yeah, there is also a manga adaption.
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| The manga cover for the 1st volume |
The series has been well-received EVEN become one of the top-selling series in Japan with 1.8 million copies sold as of February 2017, since 2015. SEE? That is what I mean! The light novel is one of the top-selling series in Japan since 2015. It is really sad to temporary halt one of your own best selling titles JUST because you cannot find ways to continue the story anymore. Anyway, I pray that he will get his inspiration to continue this story to its ending.
Plot
Anyway, with my blessing given the author of the LN, let's start to talk about the plot of the anime. So yeah, LET'S GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Ikki amongst the Sakura tree...
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The story starts with our main character, Kurogane Ikki doing his usual workout and come back to his dorm to find out that a girl is in his room! Oh, disaster! The 'best' of all us that she is changing! BTW, she is a princess from a foreign country who was on TV and came to Japan as a transfer student. That is the fact that we will find just a little later. After a fiasco between Ikki and the princess, Stella Vermillion, they decided to have a duel against each other to settle their arguments.
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| Oops... |
In that duel, we will found that Ikki has a nickname,
"Failed Knight" or "Worst One" because he has little to no magical skills as a Magical Knight. He is a rank F knight BUT Stella is a Rank A and is considered a genius.
In this duel, the bid is "the loser must be obedient for life". Well, yeah, a bid like that is definitely "not" going to ring any bell. Ikki miraculously won with his ultimate skill, 一刀修羅 (read as Ittou Shura). Later, the two of them becomes friends and starts to train together. Together, they make up for each other's weaknesses. And here goes Ikki's start to progress into greatness.
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| Ikki vs Stella |
After the fight, he became famous, like really famous. Obviously, Stella falls for him and then, his sister Shizuku Kurogane came to his school and fight against Stella for his affection. After that famed battle, he starts to get a lot of fangirls and even a bunch of student to train under his guidance. And then, Ikki's first official match was against a guy name Kirihara Shizuya, who mocks and tried to provoke him to fight back.
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| Stella vs Shizuku for Ikki's affection |
And well, he won his first match with Stella's scolding and public confession. Wow...that...is...special. Anyway, putting that aside, Ikki very quickly decided to be Stella's boyfriend almost immediately (because, one, he was in the match fighting Kirihara and two, he was unconscious after using too much energy during the fight). From there, the story starts to go from harem style story to Ikki (Well, it's mostly about him), Stella, Shizuku and his new friend, Nagi Arisuin, well, basically their road towards qualifying for the Seven Star Sword Art Festival and representing the Hagun Academy.
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| Stella fanservice! |
Well, I really hate that Ikki's father, Kurogane Itsuki is more concerned about his reputation and influence than his children's well being. Anyway, let's ignore that and...I'm pretty concerned about the "adult's business". Well, it's probably just complicated political games and fight for influence and power, which I hope that we are ALL aware of this BECAUSE this is a fact of life.
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| Itsuki...that guy... |
Anime Rating
Story (Rating: 9/10)
I like a GOOD underdog story. Never really like an overpowered main character. And also, I like a simple love story (well, the story so far is more than just a love story). NO harem BS. No dilly-dally to choose who the MC loves. Plus, I like character development and a good story. Why not?! Decent pacing with a sprinkle of mysteries hidden within (which we will probably not find out for quite a while). No full marks because the fanservice in this anime could have put some people off this anime.
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It's just basically, "Would you marry me?"
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| OH!!! She ACCEPTED!!! |
Art and Animation (Rating: 10/10)
Very detailed animation and appearance of the character. The fighting scene...nothing more to say. AMAZING! The animation is quite consistent and the movement of the character...quite well done. The part where Touka uses her power for the first time in the anime...is pretty dramatic until it breaks the 'manga frames' on the edges. And also, the animation in the last few episodes is dramatic and amplify the dire situation.
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| Oh no, Ikki...Don't give up on yourself now! |
Sound and Music (Rating: 5/10)
Although it has a good fit for scenario and background music, the opening and closing theme song is largely disappointing for an anime that has a great story and fighting scene. Really, really, it is seriously disappointing. The ending theme song, you asked? Not exactly great if it is just the song itself. The HUGE fanservice of girls in the anime ending song scene could a plus to some but for me, it's not exactly a plus.
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| The OP theme song anime scene. Surprisingly, not that bad. |
Characters (Rating: 10/10)
I like the fact that Stella and Ikki grow to care for each other and more. And well...a marriage proposal?! That's a whole new level. I like the fact that Ikki and Stella grow together in terms of their sword and magical skill (and also relationship!). The characters are quite fun to watch, like Stella (again?!), Shizuka, Nagi and even Nene!
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| Ikki and his classmate, Kagami Kusakabe. |
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| Nene being pulled off... |
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| Nene's unsurprising cute side...XD |
Enjoyment (Rating: 10/10)
I really like the story. I hope that it will have a second season (which probably won't in a long time). I would definitely rewatch parts of it as I usually don't rewatch the whole series of ANY anime (so far). So yeah, I will still give a 10 out of 10. Well, because I enjoyed it. Duh!
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| Stella...seriously? |
Overall Rating: 8.8 (8.5)/10
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| A nice couple kiss from Stella and Ikki...Aww... |
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